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Post by emmsmommy on Aug 8, 2020 19:30:42 GMT -5
Finally got back outside today. Watered the beets I planted yesterday morning and what hasn't been watered in a few days. Picked a few bush beans and cherry tomatoes. When I was out yesterday morning I noticed that two tomatoes on one of my mystery plants had chunks ate out of them. Saw the droppings and tracked down the hornworm. He decimated the rest of the plant and there's no other tomatoes left on it. Since there's really no chance of anything developing before frost, I'll probably yank the plant out. Spent an hour or so cleaning my propagation area (actually it's a shady corner by the deck) and noticed that two of the double rose of Sharon cuttings have quite a few roots. Of the six rose cuttings I took earlier, three have new buds growing so hoping they are starting to grow roots as well.
Also had quite a surprise out of a rose of Sharon seedling I dug from my grandma's yard years ago. I really don't know how it managed to survive as the area had been overtaken by black raspberries but I'm keeping the area cleared this year and it's finally blooming and it's pure white! Grandma never had a pure white one and we actually had dug up a white one from my great grandma's but it never survived the transplant. I know she would have been thrilled to see it. Have another one ready to bloom, so hoping it's a bit of a surprise too! I have a feeling I'll be taking a few cuttings in the future.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 8, 2020 20:08:42 GMT -5
A few more things later today: A couple of bitter melons, and some more tomatoes and eggplants. 8-8 by pepperhead212, on Flickr Tomatillos, and a few more tomatoes. 8-8 by pepperhead212, on Flickr A really strange Amish Gold Slicer, all on one stem. 8-8 by pepperhead212, on Flickr The cucumber plants looked horrible, after all this rain and humidity brought on some bad fungal disease. I picked my last 3 today, and pulled the 3 plants, planting 3 clones, after clearing all the vines. My last few cucumbers - you can see why I pulled the plants out! by pepperhead212, on Flickr 3 cucumber clones, planted on 8-8 by pepperhead212, on Flickr
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 8, 2020 21:59:19 GMT -5
I followed the shade for couple of hours and did some serious weeding in more hidden spaces. Some were 5 ft tall! Also deadheaded sunflowers. I left a few for the birds but deadheading helps more blooms to show up. The birds will get plenty as we approach Fall and I stop deadheading.
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Post by emmsmommy on Aug 8, 2020 22:46:32 GMT -5
pepperhead212, I'm intrigued by your cucumber clones. Are those cuttings?
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 8, 2020 23:18:53 GMT -5
emmsmommy Yes, they were cuttings - I also took cuttings of some of my other cucurbits, and they all rooted in the cloner. I have a number of them in the ground, just to see, and they are growing well!
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Post by emmsmommy on Aug 9, 2020 9:31:08 GMT -5
pepperhead212, I went back and read a few of your posts concerning the cloner. I believe you mentioned it was an aeroponic setup using a pump, a mister and I'm assuming some sort of nutrient/rooting solution. Do you have a source for the plans or is this your own design? I'm definitely intrigued but not sure if it's something I should do since I already have a propagation addiction. ;)
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Post by binnylou on Aug 9, 2020 12:04:39 GMT -5
I already have a propagation addiction. Not a problem...just feed it.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 9, 2020 12:09:41 GMT -5
emmsmommy I just made it up myself, modeling after commercial varieties, using a 4 gal bucket, with a lid, with a rubber seal - a pickle bucket, that many stores throw out. I got the powerhead and misters from a hydroponics place, and the Clonex solution also from a hydroponics place. This is simply a basic growing solution, with some rooting hormone added. Amazing how fast most of these things root in it!
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Post by Wheelgarden on Aug 9, 2020 19:51:28 GMT -5
Picked more beans, okra, and tomatoes, planted more squash. Plucked a nice bunch of basil, Genovese and Thai (I'm getting fond of the Thai), and also some spearmint for tea this evening. Hot out there, but stored it in my old bones for winter use.
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Post by emmsmommy on Aug 10, 2020 2:15:36 GMT -5
Watered the garden yesterday which takes much longer since I'm only carrying a gallon at a time. Need to make a note to pick up a water hose to attach to the rain barrel. Picked a handful of cherry tomatoes and noticed the clusters of Romas are close to ripening. Moved the cabbage seedlings outside to acclimate them to the sun. Hubby put the new raised bed together but need to move my potted tomatoes before we can move it to its final destination. Decided to use half of it as a holdover bed for my chive and garlic chive seedlings that I hope to sell next year and the other half for some late and early salad greens. Shoulder and back are much improved but not doing as well as I'd hoped. Looks like I may be making a trip to the doctor after all... ugh... aging and I are not getting along.
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Post by Mumsey on Aug 10, 2020 3:05:12 GMT -5
Went to Dad's yesterday in search of dill heads. None, strange because it usually self seeds. Plenty of Coriander, maybe that took over. Picked his tomatoes, cukes and zucchini. Took him a bag of celery, which step mom promptly cut up and froze. Threw my line in a few times, nothing biting probably due to brief storm that rolled through earlier in the day.
Today I'll be canning beans and planting lettuce.
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Post by James on Aug 10, 2020 10:09:20 GMT -5
"canning beans" That is commendable. Canning seems to be a lost art.
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Post by emmsmommy on Aug 10, 2020 11:47:09 GMT -5
"canning beans" That is commendable. Canning seems to be a lost art. Alive and well in our neck of the woods. I'm hoping to have enough half-runner and cut short beans to can this year. My mom had a hard time finding jar lids in the past month so I told her to check at the feed stores, where she finally found some. The online marketplace is loaded with people wanting to buy jars, rings and lids.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Aug 10, 2020 11:59:52 GMT -5
It's not as lost as you thought, James! In this pandemic people who never even thought about canning have bought canners, as well as the supplies, causing shortages in many places, as well as price gouging - the prices for the supplies that I do see around here are higher than I've ever seen. A lady I know, that was looking into getting just one of those cheap water bath canners - those enameled steel things, where she could find them (they were not available anywhere locally), were over $60! So she figured that she'd spend a little more, and get a pressure canner, but she found that they were out of stock everywhere, including the company's websites, and on one of those they said they were taking orders, some of which will be filled in November! I loaned her a large stockpot I had in my basement, but it only holds 4 jars - taller than it is wide, but she has something for water bath canning her tomatoes. It's amazing how many people in this pandemic have taken on gardening, canning, and cooking in general, that never even thought about it before! All I did today was pick my okra and ripe chiles - that area is in the shade early. The rest, much later, when shade gets over that area.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Aug 10, 2020 16:16:07 GMT -5
Showers and storms all day, so I've done nothin but nothin out there today. "Don't complain --- it rains for you and me". Ah, but fortunately, I've got a bounty of fresh produce in the kitchen. I'm really loving my seed-starting rig --- we've got better and earlier results, and resulting healthy goodness in the bellies. Even had basil available at first tomato blush for the first time ever. Progress.
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